JPH06320820A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recording apparatus enhanced in reliability by keeping the interval between the detection head and memory part of a linear encoder constant to ensure high reading accuracy. CONSTITUTION:In a recording apparatus applying recording to a material to be recorded by a recording means 1, a linear encoder for detecting the absolute position of a recording means is provided and the detection head 36 of the linear encoder is provided in the recording means and the memory means 35 of the linear encoder is provided in the guide shaft 3 for guiding the movement of the recording means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording on a recording material from recording means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is a sheet or a plastic thin plate based on image information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as (OHP). The recording device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a heat sensitive type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system of the recording means used.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is set. An image (including characters, symbols, etc.) is recorded by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves (main scanning) along, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scan). An image is recorded in a desired range of the recording material by repeating the operation of performing (scanning) and then recording (main scanning) the image of the next row. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records a recording material only in the sub-scanning direction in which the recording material is fed in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is continuously performed at one time. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and an image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) is a means for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is easy to make the recording means compact and high definition. Images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise and uses multicolor inks. Therefore, it has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology, it is easy to make the recording means long and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easy to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. is there.

In recent years, the recording density of a recording head of a recording device such as a printer is changed from 90 dpi to 180 dpi, 180
The densification is progressing from dpi to 360 dpi. Along with this, in order to fully utilize the capabilities of the recording head to provide high-accuracy, high-quality images, it has become an important issue to increase the accuracy of device driving such as scanning of the recording head and paper feeding. Therefore, in the conventional recording device,
A rotary encoder and a linear encoder are used as means for detecting the scan of the recording apparatus, and the drive of the recording head is controlled. In particular, since the linear encoder can detect the absolute position, it is possible to perform more precise control.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional recording apparatus, since the memory portion of the linear encoder is fixed to the chassis and the detection head is provided on the carriage, there are the following inconveniences. It was 1) The structure such as the fixing and tensioning means of the memory section becomes complicated, and there are inconveniences such as an increase in the number of parts, an increase in cost, and an increase in size of the device. 2) When the position of the recording head is adjusted according to the thickness of the recording paper, and the distance between the memory unit and the reading head changes due to an accumulated error of the assembly accuracy and the like, there is a disadvantage that the reading accuracy is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to keep a distance between a detection head of a linear encoder and a memory unit constant at all times and to perform highly accurate reading. It is to provide a highly reliable recording device by ensuring accuracy.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in a recording apparatus for recording from a recording means to a recording material, a linear encoder for detecting an absolute position of the recording means is provided, and a detection head of the linear encoder is the above recording. Provided in the means,
The memory means of the linear encoder achieves the above object by having a structure provided on a guide shaft for guiding the movement of the recording means.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configurations of the carriage section and the ink cartridge section. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,
The inkjet recording head 1 is mounted on a carriage 2 and moves along a guide shaft 3 so that its ejection surface faces the platen 4. Further, the recording material (recording sheet) 6 is supplied to the platen 4 by the rotation of the friction roller 5, and the recording sheet 6 by the recording head 1 is thereby supplied.
Is recorded. A spring portion 2a is integrally formed with the carriage 2, and the spring portion 2a slidably engages with a rail portion 7a provided on a paper guide, and the rail portion 7a is sandwiched by this coupling, whereby the guide shaft 3 The carriage 2 is urged in the direction of rotation about.

An abutting portion 2b is provided on the platen side of the carriage 2, and the abutting portion 2b is pressed against the paper pressing plate 8 by the urging force in the rotation direction. In this way, the carriage 2 is pressed against the paper pressing plate 8 by the abutting portion 2b.
Since the sheet runs while sliding, the ink jet recording head 1 can always maintain a gap of a predetermined amount with respect to the recording sheet 6, and thus stable recording can be performed. The recording means (recording head) of this embodiment
Reference numeral 1 is composed of a replaceable ink cartridge (or head cartridge) in which an ink tank for supplying ejected ink is integrated.

The recording head 1 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and has an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording head 1 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Is.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording means (recording head) 1.
In FIG. 2, the ejection port surface 5 that faces the recording material 10 with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm).
1, a plurality of discharge ports 52 are formed at a predetermined pitch,
An electrothermal converter (a heating resistor or the like) 55 for generating energy for ejecting ink is disposed along the wall surface of each liquid passage 54 that connects the common liquid chamber 53 and each ejection port 52. In this example, the recording head 1 has the ejection port 52.
Are mounted on the carriage 2 in such a positional relationship that they are arranged in a direction intersecting with the scanning direction of the carriage 2. In this way, the corresponding electrothermal converter 55 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 54 to film-boil, and the ejection port 52 is caused by the pressure generated at that time.
A recording head 1 is configured to eject ink from the recording head 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a memory portion 35 of the linear encoder is provided in a part of the guide shaft 3, and the linear encoder is detected near the guide shaft 3 of the carriage 2 so as to face the memory portion 35. A section 36 is provided. The memory unit 35 of the linear encoder is made of Fe-Cr.
It is made of a magnetic alloy such as -Co, adopts a vertical magnetization method, and is magnetized at a pitch of 180 dpi or 360 dpi. In addition, the linear encoder detection unit 36
Is composed of a magnetoresistive element or the like, and detects absolute position data as an electric signal at the magnetized position of the memory section 35 by the magnetoresistive effect. With this configuration, various controls such as driving of the recording head 1 and driving of the motor for moving the carriage 2 are performed.

At the rear end of the ink jet recording head 1,
Terminals for transmitting and receiving recording signals and the like are provided, and these terminals are connected to the head connector 9. The head connector 9 is mounted on a head printer board 10, and the head printer board 10 is connected to a printed board (not shown) by a head cable (not shown). Further, a home position sensor 11 which is a light transmission type sensor and a paper width detection sensor 12 which is a light reflection type sensor are mounted on the carriage 2, and the home position sensor 11 determines various states in the recording apparatus as a detection means. It is used for In addition, the paper width detection sensor has a carriage 2
When is moved, the width of the recording sheet 6 is read due to the difference in light reflectance between the recording sheet 6 and other places.

The cap 13 of the recovery means is attached to the recovery means moving part 14, and the recovery means moving part 14 is attached to the recovery means shaft part 1.
5, the cap 13 moves back and forth with respect to the ejection port surface of the inkjet recording head 1 through the movement of the cam 16 arranged behind the cap 13 in association with this movement, and a capping state is established. The capped state switches. The leftward movement of the recovery means moving portion 14 in FIG. 1 is performed by the protrusion 2c of the carriage 2 being fitted to the recovery means arm portion 17 and the leftward movement of the carriage. On the other hand, the rightward movement of the recovery means moving portion 14 is performed by the same rightward bias of the spring 18.

The transmission switching gear train 19 switches the transmission of the driving force by changing the relationship between them according to the positions of the carriage 2 and the recovery means moving portion 14. That is, the driving force of the feed motor 21 is transmitted to the feed intermediate gear 20 via the transmission switching gear train 19 to rotate the friction roller 5, while the driving force of the feed motor 21 is transmitted to the pump gear 22 via the transmission switching gear train 19. And the pump cam 23 formed integrally is rotated. As a result, the pump 24 is driven.

At the position adjacent to the cap 13 in the moving region of the ink jet recording head 1, the wiping means 25 and the ejection port which mainly absorb water droplets and the like on the ejection port surface of the recording head 1 as the recording head 1 moves. A wiper 26 for removing dust on the surface, unnecessary ink droplets, etc. is provided. A cartridge guide 28 is arranged at the left end of the moving area of the recording head 1 in FIG. 1, and is inserted into and removed from a needle 29 fixed to an ink cartridge 27. The ink in the cartridge guide 28 is supplied from the needle 29 to the inkjet recording head via an ink tube (not shown).
A home position detection fixed flag 30 for determining the position of the carriage 2 is provided on the cartridge guide 28. Further, the home position detecting fixed flag 30 is arranged so as to be located in the slit portion of the home position sensor 11 arranged on the carriage 2 by the movement of the carriage 2, and thereby the home position is detected.

Similarly, an ink cartridge detecting flag 31 is arranged on the left side of the home position detecting fixed flag 30 on the cartridge guide 28 in the figure,
When the ink cartridge 27 is inserted into the cartridge guide 28, the protrusion 28b of the ink cartridge lever portion 28a integrally formed with the cartridge guide 28 is pressed, whereby the ink cartridge lever portion 28
a is elastically curved, and its tip end portion 28c moves rearward. As a result, the ink cartridge detection flag 31
The cam part 31a of the
The ink cartridge detection flag 31 is rotated about the first shaft portion 31b, and the flag 31c is in a bouncing state. As a result, when the flag portion 31c is raised, the home position sensor 11 is changed from the ON state to the OFF state by the movement of the carriage 2, and it is detected that the ink cartridge 27 is not attached.

Further, the recovery means home position detection flag 32 is disposed behind the cartridge guide 28 in FIG. 1 and is rotatably mounted around its fulcrum 32a. The detection flag 32 has a flag portion 32c and a flag portion 32c. The flag portion 32c has a lever portion 32b formed on the opposite side with respect to the fulcrum 32a, and the pump cam protrusion 23a provided on the pump cam 23 pushes up the lever portion 32b to move the flag portion 32c to the carriage 2. Is launched. This allows the carriage 2
By the movement of, the sensor 11 and the flag 32c are engaged, and the recovery means detects that it is at its home position. If the home position is not set, the flag unit 32c is not activated, and thus the detection is not performed.

The home position sensor 11 used in this embodiment is a light transmission type sensor, and normally, the light emitted by the light receiving element is received by the light receiving element and the sensor is O.
It is in the N state. When the flag is inserted into the slit portion, the light emitted by the light emitting element is blocked, so that no current flows through the light receiving element, and the sensor 11 is turned off to detect the presence of the flag.

As described above, the carriage 2 that also serves as various detecting means is constructed as described above, and can move left and right on the guide shaft 3. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 2 can be driven by a conventional technique. The carriage 2 during recording is driven at a speed of about 200 to 500 mm / sec, ink is ejected from the recording head 1 onto the recording sheet 6 at a predetermined position detected by the encoder, and an image based on a predetermined image signal is formed. To do.

The recording sheet 6 is fed by an automatic paper feeder (not shown) or manually fed, and is urged to the friction roller 5 by the pinch roller spring 57.
The paper is fed between the eight roller pairs. Recording sheet 6 fed
By detecting the leading edge and the width of the sheet using the sheet width detection sensor 12 or the like, the recording head 1 can perform recording at a predetermined position on the recording sheet 6 based on image data. The friction roller 5 is driven by the feed motor 21, and the recording sheet 6 is intermittently fed by the line feed amount such as 1/6 inch or 1/8 inch. As described above, by moving the carriage 2 and feeding the recording sheet 6, the recording sheet 6
A predetermined image can be formed on the entire area of the. Further, the recording sheet 6 on which recording has been performed is discharged by the discharge rollers 59 and the like, and is stacked on a discharge tray or the like (not shown).

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment,
Although a so-called magnetic linear encoder using the magnetoresistive effect is used, an optical linear encoder may be used as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in the figure, the linear encoder memory section 35 'has a structure in which a groove is provided in the guide shaft 3 and a light absorber is formed by printing or the like at a pitch of 180 dpi or 360 dpi in the groove portion. As shown in FIG. 4, the linear encoder detector 36 'is composed of a light emitting element 33 and a light receiving element 34 of an LED. The linear encoder 36' detects the position data of the linear encoder 36 'depending on the presence / absence of reflected light, etc. Can be output as. In this case, the structure of the magnetic material is not affected as compared with the magnetic type. Further, since the memory portion 35 'is provided in the groove of the guide shaft 3, it does not directly slide on the carriage 2, so that the deterioration of the memory portion 35' due to sliding or the like is reduced. The rest of the configuration is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment and will not be described.

(Third Embodiment) In the first and second embodiments, the recording head 1 and the ink section 27 are separate bodies, and the gap between the recording head 1 and the recording sheet 6 is such that the carriage 2 and the paper pressing plate 8 are provided. Although it was a self-aligning type that abuts against and keeps on the recording head 1 and the ink tank 42, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to use an integrated head cartridge 41 and determine the gap between the recording head 1 and the recording sheet 6 by using the eccentric shaft 37 that is passed through an elongated hole provided in the carriage 2 '.

When the eccentric shaft 37 is rotated, the carriage 2 '
Can be swung in the A and B directions about the guide shaft 3. When the carriage 2'is swung in the A and B directions, the print head 1 is swung in the C and D directions. Therefore, by setting the angular position of the eccentric shaft 37 to an appropriate position, the desired print head 1 and print sheet 6 are separated. The gap can be set. At this time, the corresponding width of the memory unit is wide so that the linear encoder detection unit 36 can follow the memory unit 35 even if the angle of the carriage 2'is varied. In the case of this embodiment, the number of constituent parts can be reduced as compared with the self-aligning type and the head / ink tank separate type. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment and will not be described.

In the first embodiment, a magnetic linear encoder is used, and the memory section 36 is provided in a part of the guide shaft 3. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the entire guide shaft 3 is made of a magnetic alloy. You may shape. Then, the portion facing the detection unit 36 is configured to be the magnetized portion 35a. In the case of this embodiment, the manufacturing process and workability can be improved. Other configurations are first
The description is omitted because it is the same as the embodiment.

In the present invention, since the absolute position of the recording head is detected by the linear encoder and the driving of the recording head and the motor of the cap equipped with the recording head are controlled, high-precision control becomes possible. It is possible to provide high-definition and high-quality images, and there are the following effects. 1) The detection head is provided on the recording head, and the memory means is provided on the guide shaft of the carriage at the center of rotation of the gap adjusting mechanism between the recording sheet and the recording head. Since it can be kept constant, high reading accuracy can be secured and reliability is improved. 2) With the configuration in which the memory unit of the linear encoder is provided on the guide shaft of the carriage, the configuration can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the device size can be reduced. 3) Since the guide shaft is provided with a groove and the memory portion of the linear encoder is provided in the groove, the memory portion does not slide on the carriage, and deterioration due to sliding or the like can be reduced.

The present invention can be applied to a recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus which uses a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. This brings an excellent effect in an ink jet recording apparatus of a type that ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740 are incorporated.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , Generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. So effective.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 24 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a structure based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a structure in which the above is associated with the discharge portion. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, as described above, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording material (recording medium) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. . As such a recording head,
Either a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the device main body,
Alternatively, a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be electrically connected to the device body and supply ink from the device body when mounted on the device body, or an ink tank is integrally provided on the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when the cartridge type recording head described above is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means or preliminary auxiliary means to the recording head provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus in the present invention because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, in addition to the above-mentioned capping means, cleaning means, and suction recovery means for the recording head, a pressure-type recovery means, an electrothermal converter, or a heating other than this. It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary heating means using an element or a combination thereof and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording.

As described above, regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of recording heads having different recording colors and densities are provided. A plurality of inks may be provided corresponding to the ink. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be either the recording head is integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of color colors or full colors by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink that has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a form in which the electrothermal converter is opposed to a liquid sheet or a solid material held in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. And the like may be used.

[0038]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a linear encoder for detecting the absolute position of the recording means is provided in the recording apparatus for recording on the recording material from the recording means. Since the detection head of the encoder is provided in the recording means and the memory means of the linear encoder is provided in the guide shaft for guiding the movement of the recording means, the detection head of the linear encoder and the memory section are A highly reliable recording device is provided by always maintaining a constant interval and ensuring high reading accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing configurations of a carriage section and an ink cartridge section.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing configurations of a carriage unit and an ink cartridge unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a linear encoder memory unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a carriage unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing configurations of a carriage unit and an ink cartridge unit according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Means (Recording Head = Head Cartridge) 2 Carriage 3 Guide Axis 4 Platen 6 Recording Sheet 9 Head Connector 10 Head Printed Circuit Board 11 Home Position Sensor 12 Paper Width Detection Sensor 13 Cap 14 Recovery Means Shaft 15 Recovery Means Shaft 16 Cam 17 Recovery Means Arm unit 18 Spring 19 Transmission switching gear train 27 Ink cartridge 28 Cartridge guide 30 Home position detection fixed flag 31 Home position detection flag 33 Light emitting element 34 Light receiving element 36 Linear encoder memory unit 37 Eccentric shaft

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording from a recording means to a recording material, comprising a linear encoder for detecting an absolute position of the recording means, and a detection head of the linear encoder is provided in the recording means, and the linear encoder is provided. The recording device, wherein the memory means of the encoder is provided on a guide shaft for guiding the movement of the recording means. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory means is provided in a groove formed in the guide shaft. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide shaft is a rotation center of a gap adjusting mechanism between the recording material and the recording means. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide shaft is substantially made of a magnetic alloy. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is an inkjet recording unit including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter.